Karson's Favorites

I thought I would start a blog for shop tricks and tips.
We all learn things just as a matter of course. Why not share some of your favorites.
Here’s one I learned a long time ago. I just used it a little while ago and that’s what got this going.
Suppose you have a piece you are cutting to length for a perfect fit. Not thight not loose but perfect.Say a piece of trim for something. Well, if you are like me you cut it a little long and nibble away at ituntil it’s per...

This was requested from multiple sites, so I did one for everybody.
Here’s some photos of my process;I only had enough time to do a two-ring knot, but it’sall the same to make a four-ring knot accurately if you follow these steps.
This shows the miter sled, the length of contrasting wood for the slices, and the bloodwood blank I’m going to use.
I’ve already squared the blank so that all four sides are the same size.I randomly pick a side and mark it 1.Side 2 i...

After seeing the neat job that MOT/ Tom did with his shooting board I was enticed to make one of my own.I am in the middle of milling some wood for small boxes so I will needed something to handle these small gauge materials.I am a pack rat and wood hoarder by genetic make up so when I dug through one of my precious piles of scrap I found an old poplar plywood shelf, a piece of arborite (Tom’s idea) and a piece of 3/4” fir flooring plywood.The rest were off cuts of oak walnut etc ...

I’ve been wanting to add a few saws to the “toolbox.” And, rather than spend a bunch of dough, I thought that I’d try to refurbish some used backsaws. Though I will more than likely purchase a couple older Disston or other manufacturer tenon saws, in the 12” range, I though I’d try my hand at learning to sharpen on a couple 10” backsaws with turned handles that I already have.
The only functional western style backsaw I own (aside from a flush cu...

If you dread the finishing part of a project as I used to, perhaps I can persuade you to give this mix/technique a try.
The idea of using an oil combined with a film forming finish is not new; this is simply the one I have settled on after experimenting with a number of different products.
An ideal finish should be easy to apply, enhance the grain and figure of the wood and provide a reasonable level of protection from normal wear and tear.
The soft hand rubbed glow is a bonus. If yo...

Gwurst Started IT!
Gwurst started a forum about a tv cabinet that he is designing and building. Here is a fine example for all the newbies to see open source woodworking knowledge in action. His ideas of construction have changed dramatically. You can check it out here.
What I really want to feature here is joinery.
One intimidating factor of construction is the joinery. The thought of tackling all that traditional old world joinery can be a bit overwhelming.
It’s Pocke...

Here’s what I have accomplished in the past week or so…
Drawers:So last time I talked about my drawer construction and my not-so-orthodox method of “biscuit-slotting” them together (the “don’t try this at home, kids” method). I got scolded for that a little, and for good reason. It probably wouldn’t have lasted as long. So I ended up just shooting them full of brads to reinforce them since I figured out that the brads would be hidden by the s...

To refresh one’s memory check out WayneC’s Blog at: http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/WayneC/blog/1439
This is my first attempt, so keep this in mind. I will only accept criticism to a point and I request that you please forgive any and all, punctuation, grammar or mispellings.
What I believe to be a Corsair Plane I purchase from a gentleman in a Southern Indiana Flea Market for the whopping sum of $3. So if this didn’t work I am not out that much, right?
Anybody eve...

Dust collection is a very important issue in the shop. It is critical to health and general safety. Dust collection adds to the efficiency of the shop because the dust goes straight into the collection container and does not have to be swept up after being worked in and around. It is achieved in as many various ways as woodworkers can think up. Here is how I have chosen to do it in one shop. These views are from my brother’s shop in Ohio where I am currently working.
Point of Us...

Construct these beautiful end grainCutting boards
Hello fellow woodworkers,In the spirit of sharing woodworking knowledge I am writing this tutorial for anyone interested in constructing these beautiful end grain cutting boards. Take a look at the photos of the four styles I have made, or create your own pattern’s and follow the steps I have outlined in this tutorial. Questions and comments are welcome, enjoy.
For this board I used maple, walnut, lyptus and purpleheart.
White oak, wa...